President Barack Obama called The Wire “one of the best shows of all time,” and curbed his Chicago bias enough to rave about New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin during a 24-minute basketball-centric conversation on Bill Simmons’ “B.S. Report” podcast.

Obama guaranteed a Chicago Bulls NBA title before he leaves office – in five years? – but he couldn’t resist raving about Lin, a fellow Harvard grad who’s sparked the Knicks during their recent winning streak. “I’ve been on the Jeremy Lin bandwagon for awhile,” Obama boasted, explaining that his Secretary of Education – and former Harvard basketball captain – Arne Duncan had raved about Lin’s talents when the 23-year-old was still a member of the Crimson.

“It’s a terrific story. He seems like a wonderful young man, and it elevates this great sport all around the world.”

Simmons, ESPN’s Sports Guy, noted Boston-sports partisan, and the author of a mammoth tome titled The Book of Basketball, kept the conversation mostly to the hardwood, including the president’s opinion on the best basketball player of all time. No surprise there: Chicago’s Michael Jordan.